EPA Releases Draft Risk Evaluation for 1,1-Dichloroethane and 1,2-Dichloroethane: Potential Health and Environmental Risks Identified

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its draft risk evaluation for 1,1-dichloroethane and 1,2-dichloroethane, both used in the production of vinyl chloride. The EPA has determined that 1,1-dichloroethane poses an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment, with potential effects including kidney and other cancers, as well as harmful non-cancer effects on the kidney, nasal, immune system, and reproductive systems. The two chemicals are similar in terms of their physical structure, with 1,2-dichloroethane being the better studied. The EPA is seeking feedback on the draft human health hazard assessment for 1,2-dichloroethane to fill gaps in understanding the toxicity of 1,1-dichloroethane. The draft risk evaluation shows that exposure to 1,1-dichloroethane may increase the risk of kidney and other cancers, as well as harmful non-cancer effects to workers. The EPA also found no unreasonable risk to the general population from breathing air or ingesting drinking water, and no unreasonable risk to potentially exposed subpopulations. The EPA also found no unreasonable risk of injury to aquatic species from acute exposures to 1,1-dichloroethane.